Franklin wins in austin meet
AUSTIN, Texas — Missy Franklin, a 16-year-old who attends Regis Jesuit High School, won the 200-meter backstroke at the Austin Grand Prix on Saturday night in a time of 2 minutes, 8.18 seconds.
Franklin, the USA Swimming female athlete of the year who was the fastest in the world in the event last year, also led for three laps in the 200 freestyle before fading in the final 50 meters to finish behind Allison Schmitt. Schmitt finished in 1:55.83.
Franklin was seventh in 29.95 in the 50 freestyle, an event that is not her specialty. She’s scheduled to race today in the 100 backstroke and 200 medley.
Michael Phelps won the 400 individual medley in 4:16.25. The 14-time Olympic gold medalist, the world-record holder in the event since 2002, beat second-place Conor Dwyer by 4.91 seconds. Phelps is set to race today in the 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke and 200 medley.
Oregon quarterback Thomas going pro
EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas is skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft.
Thomas’ announcement, which caught many by surprise, follows Oregon running back LaMichael James, who announced last week that he would skip his final year of eligibility.
Thomas, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound junior, passed for 2,761 yards and a school-record 33 touchdowns this past season despite missing a game because of an injury. He also ran for three scores. He threw only seven interceptions.
• Purdue said the NCAA has awarded quarterback Robert Marve a sixth year of eligibility, and he will play for the Boilermakers in 2012.
• New Washington State football coach Mike Leach completed his coaching staff, adding former Montana assistant Mike Breske as defensive coordinator.
• Defensive backs coach Willie Martinez resigned from Oklahoma’s coaching staff to make room for Mike Stoops — head coach Bob Stoops‘ younger brother — to become the new co-defensive coordinator.
Maggert, Every share Sony lead
HONOLULU — Jeff Maggert played bogey-free in relatively calm conditions for a 6-under-par 64 that left the 47-year-old in a tie for the lead with Matt Every in the Sony Open.
Maggert is coming up on the six-year anniversary of his last win, and missed a good portion of last year after surgery on his right shoulder. Every stalled on the back nine, and then birdied the last hole for a 68 to join Maggert at 12-under 198.
Charles Howell III, who has had five finishes in the top five at the Sony Open, gave himself another opportunity with a 66. He was in the group tied with Johnson Wagner (66) and Brendon de Jonge (67) at 10-under 200. D.A. Points shot 64 and was another shot back, tied with Duffy Waldorf (66).
• South Africa’s Branden Grace and England’s Richard Finch were in front by one stroke at the Joburg Open in Johannesburg before the third round of the European Tour event was stopped because of darkness.
Rangers talk to Fielder
ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan publicly acknowledged that the AL champions have had talks with free agent slugger Prince Fielder.
Ryan described the discussions as “very preliminary.”
• Third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff and the Kansas City Royals agreed to terms on a minor-league contract. Kouzmanoff, an Evergreen High School graduate, hit .235 with seven homers and 33 RBIs in 73 games for Oakland and the Rockies last season.
